Is awareness of HIV enough to alter high-risk behaviour? What do HIV positive individuals have to say?

Thomas, B.E.; Suryanarayanan, D.; Muniyandi, M.; Meenalochani Dilip; Rajasekaran, S.; Swaminathan, S.

SAARC Journal of Tuberculosis, Lung Diasease & HIV/AIDS; 2005; II; 1-9.

Abstract: This study was done to find out the awareness of HIV among HIV positive individuals before being diagnosed HIV positive. The study also provides information on whether their knowledge influenced their risk behavior if any. This is a descriptive study and data has been collected from 108 HIV positive individuals from Chennai, South India. Awareness of HIV and its mode of transmission were as high as 85%. Gender and literacy has not been a barrier to awareness. In spite of awareness of HIV/AIDS and its spread, 73% of the respondents continued risk behaviour. The respondents included men and women and their reasons for risk behavior and their manifold misconceptions have been reported. The findings call for the need to address these issues in preventive programmes aimed at HIV control.

eywords: HIV, awareness, misconceptions, high-risk behaviour

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